Ways cover chip problem

ON ITS NEW POWERMILL FAMILY OF 5-AXIS, HIGH-SPEED vertical milling machines, Machines-Outils Henri Linè Inc. of Granby, Quebec, needed to protect sensitive linear-magnet and scale components, as well as the machines' ways. Initially, the machine buil

Nov 30, 2003

Gordillo covers, featuring a series of metal panels or plates over the top of conventional bellow-type covers, protect the ways of the Henri Linè Powermill family of 5-axis high-speed vertical milling machines.

ON ITS NEW POWERMILL FAMILY OF 5-AXIS, HIGH-SPEED vertical milling machines, Machines-Outils Henri Linè Inc. of Granby, Quebec, needed to protect sensitive linear-magnet and scale components, as well as the machines' ways. Initially, the machine builder planned for accordion-type covers for the crossrail and bed ways, but because of the location, these covers would collect too many chips. The solution, instead, was Gordillo covers from A&A Manufacturing featuring a series of metal panels or plates over the top of conventional bellowtype covers.

These metal plates, hinged at one end, overlap each other much like shingles. As the machine's column moves, the plates either overlap or slide out from under one another to present a continuous, flat surface that sheds chips. For added chip evacuation, one end of the covers is higher, causing chips to fall away and into a conveyor below the machine.

According to Henri Linè engineers, the machine's rapid acceleration and high travel speed compounded the problem. Mainly because V-shaped cover sections would trap chips instead of deflecting them.

The Gordillo covers for this application are the longest A&A has made to date. They extend more than 18 m and retract down to 1.26 m. Elastomer-impregnated nylon with PVC stiffeners for rigidity make up the bellows portion. Nylon riders within the bellows slide on the machine ways and raise one end of the cover in a slanted configuration to shed chips.

Tie strips join the convolutions and ensure each section opens evenly. The metal plates then fasten to one side along the top of each convolution, with the other end riding free as they slide over each other when the cover retracts.